The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-07
WASHINGTON LETTER
From our Regular Correspondence

srIOm our regular COrre6p0n06nt.l
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Oct. 8, 1887.
Perhaps 1 could not better begin
this letter than by giving a brief de-
scription of the elegantly appointed
and equipped train that is bearing the
Presidential party on their great West
ern and Southern tour, about which so
much has been said and written. The
train consists of three Pullman cars,
connected in such a way that one can
walk from one end to the other with
out opening door or being exposed to
the weather or other discomfort, and
the coaches are richly and fashionably
furnished and upholstered--among the
articles being beautiful bedroom,
centre-tablt, inlaid writing desk, sofas,
rocking chairs, barber chairs, and sew
eral large mirrors to say nothing of a
bathroom and smoking compartment,
and to cap the climax, the cars are
heated by steam from the locomotive
and furnished with electric lights from
the same source. Washington has
certainly never before seen such q
splendidly QUILTED train. Geo. M.
Pullman gave his personal attention to
the details, and the outlay is said to
represent capital of 100000, and it
is further stated that the President
will be at an expense of $1,000 for the
trip. The party consisted of the Pre-
sident and Mrs. Cleyeland, Private
Secretary Lamont, two or three per-
sonal friends of Mr.. Cleveland, and
three representatives of the press. A
great crowd assembled at the Balti-
more and Potomac depot to see the
distinguished travellers depart, Score
taries Bayard, Endicott and Whitney
being of the number The floral fav-
ors to Mrs. Cleveland were lavish and
rarely beautiful
An important act of the President
before leaving was the appointment of
Secretary Bayard and Messrs VIM. L.
Putnam of Maine, and Jas. B. Angel,
OF Michigan, to act as Commissioners
In the adjustment of the question of
the fisheries troubles with our north
ern neighbors. All of these gentlemen
have had sufficient diplomatic training
in positions of public trust to warrant
the belief, that if satisfactory settle
ment of the international controversy
is possible, the country may confident
ly expect such result at their hands
"A consummation devoutly to be
wished.
At the last Cabinet meeting the
financial situation was exhaustively
discussed, with the purpose to provide
against a possible recurrence of the re-
cent stringency in the commercial
world, and decided difference of opin.
ion was developed regarding the
authority of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury to purchase bonds not required
for the sinking fund the result being
that it was determined to refer the
matter to the decision of the Attorney
General, in case there should apparent
ly arise the necessity of such action on
the part of the Secretary, to relieve the
money market.
1t appears that the monetary alarm
was more a matter of Imagination than
reality, generally speaking, for the
very simple reason that the volume of
currency was increased seventy-fve
millioo dollars last year, which goes to
show that the business interests of the
are in a healthy condition.
II is calculated at the treasury that
Lhe Government has saved IN interest
by the prepayment of bouds under the
,ircular OF last month the handsome |
sum of SO, 00,000--not to mention
he probable immense financial losses
I prevented individuals from suffering.
The naval board has concluded 10